Contents:
- Medical Video: A Storm of Memories | Critical Role | Campaign 2, Episode 46
- Overview of sundowning syndrome
- How do you deal with elderly people with sundowning syndrome?
- What should be done to overcome the elderly with sundowning syndrome?
- 1. Understand the trigger
- 2. Manage activities and habits
- 3. Create a comfortable atmosphere
- Even though you have to care for the elderly, you also should not forget about your health
Medical Video: A Storm of Memories | Critical Role | Campaign 2, Episode 46
If you live with an elderly person who has Alzheimer's disease, you must be aware of a change in behavior in the afternoon or late at night. This condition is called sundown syndrome or sundowning syndrome, which means a late night syndrome. Although it cannot be completely stopped, this syndrome can be managed. Consider the following review on sundowning syndrome and how to overcome it.
Overview of sundowning syndrome
Reporting from WebMD, one in five people with Alzheimer's or dementia can experience this syndrome, but it can also occur in older people who do not have Alzheimer's or dementia. The cause of the occurrence of this syndrome has not been confirmed, but some scientists argue that this change is influenced by the brain's ability and the body's biological clock in the elderly who have begun to be disrupted.
Some of the symptoms that appear in this syndrome are changes in mood to become anxious, upset, confused, feeling suspicious of something, or can also scream and hallucinate. The trigger for this condition usually occurs when the area around the patient is darker or dimmer, feeling tired or frustrated, bored, having a sleep disorder, starving or thirsty, and having difficulty separating the dream from reality (disorientation) and feeling dazed.
How do you deal with elderly people with sundowning syndrome?
When this condition occurs, you must remain calm, do not show your anxiety that can worsen his condition. Then, try to calm it down with the following:
- Approach the patient and ask what is needed
- Remind patients that it's late and better to rest
- Reassure the patient that everything is fine
- Accompany the patient, don't leave alone
If the above tips have no effect at all, consult your doctor to get the best treatment and advice so the symptoms don't get worse.
What should be done to overcome the elderly with sundowning syndrome?
Symptoms of sundowning syndrome can occur very badly but will improve in the morning. However, this condition can disturb other people who have to rest and certainly interfere with the quality of the elderly's own sleep. Here are some tips for dealing with and overcoming elderly people with sundowning syndrome, such as:
1. Understand the trigger
Every elderly person with sundowning has a different trigger. For that, start paying attention and supervising its activities precisely in the late afternoon. In this way, you can find the trigger and can reduce or limit the elderly with exposure to these triggers.
2. Manage activities and habits
Try to schedule activities for patients, so that the routine continues to run normally and the patient does not feel confused or feel threatened by things that he cannot predict.
If there are changes, then apply slowly to give the patient time to adapt. Not only home activities, but allowing the elderly to have time to just chat with their neighbors or take a walk in the afternoon might help improve moods and reduce stress.
Then, don't let the patient smoke or drink alcohol which will disrupt their health. If the trigger is due to thirst or hunger, you may have to go back to checking the elderly diet, for example, providing a small snack in the afternoon and providing a glass of water in a drawer near his bed.
3. Create a comfortable atmosphere
Because the syndrome occurs when the sun starts to set, you can provide a comfortable atmosphere in the bedroom by closing the curtains and not allowing the surrounding area to become very dark. Prepare his favorite blanket and put family photos in his room so that the patient does not feel alone. Maybe you can read a story, open a small chat, or turn on music that can calm his heart so that the patient can sleep well later.
Even though you have to care for the elderly, you also should not forget about your health
The condition of the elderly with this syndrome may make you have less time to sleep or rest. However, you must stay healthy so you can monitor and care for your health. So, as best you can to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Consume a balanced healthy diet, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep. Maybe you need help from a partner or other person to take care of the patient alternately so that you can still do the routines and hobbies that you like.
